The Dark Lord's energy surged through the chamber, a maelstrom of darkness that crackled against the walls and sent shockwaves rippling through the ground. The Guardians braced themselves, their resolve unshaken despite the raw power they faced.
Jasmine's towering water Avatar surged forward, attempting to deflect the oncoming energy. Her form shimmered with a radiant glow as waves crashed against the shadowy tendrils, buying the others time to regroup.
"Focus!" she called out, her voice resonating through the chamber.
The Breaking Point
But the Dark Lord's attack was relentless. A concentrated blast of dark energy collided with Jasmine's Avatar, cracking its surface. She pushed back with everything she had, the water swirling around her with ferocity.
"No!" Leo shouted, hurling a massive fireball to divert the Dark Lord's attack. Skye followed with a vortex of wind, but the combined assault wasn't enough.
Jasmine's Avatar splintered, the shimmering water form collapsing in a cascade of droplets. She fell through the air, her body limp and unconscious.
Zane's Rescue
Zane's heart froze as he saw Jasmine falling. Time slowed around him—not by choice, but by instinct. Every second stretched as he darted forward, the Blade of Eternity glowing with urgency in his hand.
"Not this time," he muttered, his voice low and determined.
He reached her just in time, catching her in his arms. The world snapped back into motion, the sounds of battle crashing around them. Zane knelt on the ground, holding Jasmine close.
Her eyelids fluttered as she stirred, her voice faint. "Zane...?"
"I've got you," he said, his voice unusually soft. The normally stoic mask he wore cracked, concern flooding his expression. "You're safe."
A Moment of Vulnerability
Jasmine looked up at him, her strength slowly returning. "I—I lost the Avatar. I'm sorry..."
"Don't apologize," Zane interrupted, his tone firm. "You gave us everything you had. That's more than enough."
For a moment, the chaos of the battle faded away. Zane's usually cold demeanor melted as he gently brushed a strand of wet hair from her face.
"You're always so reckless," he added, a small, rare smile playing on his lips.
Jasmine blinked, caught off guard by his tenderness. She opened her mouth to reply, but a renewed roar from the Dark Lord snapped them both back to reality.
Rising Again
Jasmine sat up, her determination rekindled. "I'm not done yet."
Zane hesitated, his protective instincts warring with his trust in her strength. "Just... be careful."
Jasmine nodded, her confidence returning as she rose to her feet. The water around her began to stir again, her elemental power responding to her renewed resolve.
The Final Push
Meanwhile, Calypso and Bruce's Avatars continued their assault on the Dark Lord, their combined strength keeping him on the defensive.
"Jasmine, can you create another Avatar?" Calypso called out, her cosmic energy blazing.
"Not yet," Jasmine admitted. "But I can still fight."
She joined the fray, summoning massive waves that struck with precision, supporting the Avatars as they pressed the attack.
Zane stood back momentarily, gripping the Blade of Eternity tightly. "We need to end this now."
"Agreed," Bruce rumbled from within his earthen colossus. "We're running out of time."
The Dark Lord's Counterattack
The Dark Lord roared, his shadowy form expanding as he unleashed another devastating wave of energy. The ground quaked, and the walls of the fortress began to crumble.
"Hold the line!" Leo shouted, fire blazing as he leaped into action.
Skye took to the air, her wind currents stabilizing the collapsing structure. "We can't let him escape!"
